Guard tightener for mowers, binders, and analogous machines



GUARD TIGHTENER FOR MOWERS, BINDERS, AND ANALAG'OUS MACHINES Flled Nov 11 1933 Invenior flllomey Z J Gocirel L. J. GOCKEL Sept, 18, 1934.

Patented Sept. 18, 1934 llNi'iED STATES GUARD TIGHTENER FOR MOWERS, BIND- ERS, AND ANALOGOUS MACHINES Leo J. Gockel,

Salem, S. Dak.

Application November 11, 1933, Serial No. 697,656

3 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to cutting equipment for mowers, binders, combines and similar grain and grass cutting machines, and has as its object the provision of improved means for tightening the guard fingers of the cutter equipment in a manner to secure the fingers against casual displacement, and in suitable alinement in a manner to eliminate play of the individual fingers and reduce wear.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of the cutting equipment of .a mower, binder or the like with the reciprocating knife bar removed and illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of a guard finger embodying certain features of the invention and stantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals it will be seen that 5 indicates generally the support bar, 6, 7 the heads or shoes provided on the ends of the bar 5, while 8 indicates generally the guard fingers.

As is well known the guard fingers 8 are provided with oppositely extending projections 9 which, when the heels or rear ends of the guard fingers are secured by belts or similar fastening elements 10 in proper position on the bar 5, abut one another as clearly shown in Figure 1 in a manner intended to serve for holding the fingers in proper position.

At the present time there is no suitable provision to insure more or less positively against the fingers 8 becoming, upon loosening of the fastening elements 10, out of alinement, and to overcome this defect it is proposed to provide on each of the heads or shoes 6 and 7, means engageable with the outside projections on each of the end guard fingers 8 in a manner to positively secure the fingers 8 against being swung about their pivots formed by the fastener 10 and consequently shifted out of alinement. Each of the heads 6, 7 has a part thereof provided with a suitable aperture in which is screw threaded an adjusting screw 11 equipped with a lock nut 12 to secure the screw 11 at the desired adjustment. Also, in accordance with the present invention each of the end guard fingers 8 has its outer lateral projection constructed with a departure from the original in that said projection herein indicated by the reference numeral 13 is tapered reverse to the projection on the opposite side of the guard fingers so as to be largest at its outer or free end. Said outer or free end is adapted to be engaged by the adjacent screw 11 and to this end is dished Figure 3 is a detail sectional View taken subout or recessed as at 14 to accommodate the free end of the scrawl 11 as shown in Figure 3.

It will thus be seen that through the medium of the present invention when wear takes place, the same can be compensated for by taking a few turns on either or both of the screws 11 in a manner to bear against the projection 13 and thus force the guard fingers 8 inwardly toward one another so as to properly engage the projections 9 of the guard fingers and'thereby secure the fingers in proper alinement and positively against being casually displaced or swung either toward the right or left.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a cutting bar including shoes at the ends thereof and guard fingers connected with the bar and each having projections on opposite sides thereof, with the projections of each finger engaging the projections of adjacent fingers; adjustable means carried by the shoes of the cutter bar engaging the ends of the outer projections of the outermost fingers, such means comprising a projection carried by each shoe, each shoe having a lateral hole therein through which the projection carried thereby passes, and means for adjustably holding said projection in position.

2. In a cutting bar including shoes at the ends thereof and guard fingers connected with the bar and each having projections on opposite sides thereof, with the projections of each finger engaging the projections of adjacent fingers; adjustable means carried by the shoes of the cutter bar engaging the ends of the outer projections of the outermost fingers, such adjustable means consisting of set screws passing through threaded holes in the shoes.

3. In a cutting bar including shoes at the ends thereof and guard fingers connected with the bar and each having projections on opposite sides thereof, with the projections of each finger engaging the projections of adjacent fingers; adjustable means carried by the shoes of the cutter bar engaging the ends of the outer projections of the outermost fingers, such adjustable means consisting of set screws passing through threaded holes in the shoes, and the outer end of each outermost projection having a recess therein for receiving the end of a screw.

LEO J. GOCKEL. 

